Page 122 of Ruin The Friendship
She raises her eyebrows, and when I feel a hand wrap around my wrist, I relax.
“Maybe we should talk about this another time,” Fletcher whispers.
“No need.” She grabs her purse, her eyes still wide. “I see that my kindness and effort in making pathways for my granddaughter that my own daughter didn’t take are unappreciated. I’ll go.”
I lean into Fletcher’s arms as they wrap around me. I don’t have the energy to stop her or make things right. I can’t do it. If she doesn’t understand why I don’t want to raise my daughter that way now, I’m not sure she ever will.
My mother scrambles out without a second glance or another word, and I sink into Fletcher, resting my head on his chest as he rubs my back.
He kisses my hair. “I’m proud of you.”
“Why?” I choke out a laugh between tears.
“You stood up to her, even if it was hard.”
“It didn’t feel like it. She just doesn’t listen or get it.”
“She doesn’t. But there’s only so much we can do.”
Nodding into his chest, I take a deep breath. “Thanks.”
“You’re amazing, Lydi. I know that was hard.”
Another hand joins Fletcher’s on my back. “How are you doing?”
I recognize the voice as Zoey’s.
Turning from Fletcher’s arms, I fall into hers, accepting another long hug. “Fine, I guess. Sorry everyone had to see that.”
“Hey. We don’t care. We’re here for you.” Under her breath, she says, “It really was a shitty gift.”
A laugh bursts from my lips. “It really was.”
The rest of our friends make their way over, pulling us into a big group hug.
“I hate to be the one to say it,” Calvin says, fully breaking the tension, “but Lydia, your mom is kind of a bitch.”
We all laugh, and I’m reminded that family isn’t always blood. It’s the people who are there for you every step of the way, cheering you on, and picking you up when you fall, no matter how messy it gets.
52
BITING MY TONGUE
LYDIA
Igroan as I shift in bed, my body aching after the long day yesterday. Fletcher is lying behind me while I cradle my pregnancy pillow, his body latched and intertwined with my limbs like an octopus.
“Wha—” he mumbles when I scoot away.
“I have to pee.” I throw the pillow from my front and roll out of bed.
After the shower last night, we went to dinner with everyone and dropped Dottie off at the hotel. She could have stayed with us now that I’m pretty much living in Fletcher’s room, but she chose the hotel a block away.
She’s going to meet me at the arena for the game this afternoon, and I can’t wait. We decided to get seats in the lower bowl rather than a suite, since it’s just the two of us. The only thing I’ve heard from my mom is a message from my dad letting me know she made it home safely, and that they were both disappointed in my reaction to the gift.
I don’t know where my relationship with my parents goes from here, but I need to figure it out.
Once I’m finished in the bathroom, I head back into thebedroom to find Fletcher awake and waiting for me. “Come here.”
